How to repair carpenter bee damage?

[plowhog]

I want to prep my barn for paint, and carpenter bees have caused widespread damage to the wood. There are numerous holes in the siding-- typically the size of a dime, or a nickle.

The eaves have some larger holes/voids that are maybe 1-2 inches across. Typically where the boards under the eave join together.

What are some options to repair this? I previously used LiquidWood/WoodEpox for a wooden threshold repair, but that stuff is stupid expensive and might be overkill for something like this ???

Thanks!

 

[Doughknob]

Anything made to stick really good to wood without pressure. Just filling holes does little good structurally unless the filler really sticks to the wood.

I don't know of anything that does this. The "real" fix is to replace the lumber if you want structural integrity.

 

[lman]

I don't think any of the damage he described was to structural wood.

 

[plowhog]

I don't think any of the damage he described was to structural wood.

The repair I need is to the siding / fascia boards. Not structural.

Just looking for "cosmetic" repair ideas for the exterior, prior to paint ......

 

[CADplans]

A trick that I found that makes the bees angry is:
take some "headed" nails, like framing nails, and drive the nails in the holes before you plug the holes.

The bees seem to like to come back to the same spot, and dig out the filler material you plug the holes with.
When they start digging,, they run into a nail,, and then they move on,,

I have fence posts that I simply drove nails into the carpenter bee holes, the bees did not return,,
The steel must be hard on their teeth??

 

[GeneV]

I fixed a bunch of those holes with plugs, you could get bags of them in various sizes at Home Depot or whatever.

 

[Rowdy Redneck]

I like Durhams wood filler.

 

[Midniteoyl]

The repair I need is to the siding / fascia boards. Not structural.

Just looking for "cosmetic" repair ideas for the exterior, prior to paint ......

Wood plugs and outdoor/marine glue. Cut flush. Might wanna put something behind them as suggested.

 

[Have tractor did travel]

I've tried wood filler without success.
I've used construction adhesive with EXCELLENT results.

 

[CobyRupert]

Carpenter bees were horrendous this year near us. I used wood filler. Filler was probably a success because we also hung up traps and got rid of hundreds of them.